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G3-247 Report INDIA


CASINOS IN INDIA: WHAT’S HAPPENING?


“Casinos in Goa have made a very positive contribution to the local economy and, no matter what their comments for local public consumption may be, they are here to stay. They have driven forward airline travel, taxi usage, hotel occupancy, restaurant usage and they have also provided jobs to thousands of young Goans, who are now earning vastly more money than they ever thought possible. Many of these are young people without any significant academic qualifications and there- fore whose employment prospects would be limited to low end, low paying, and intermittent (possibly seasonal) work.


The other major effect is the levelling out of the seasonality which bedevilled to hospitality industry in Goa until recently. In short, many hotels and restaurants simply closed up during the monsoon end May to end September. This is now much less pronounced, with significantly greater numbers of arrivals (mainly domestic tourists) during the monsoon season.


PUNJAB Punjab is in the north west of India and after the parti- tion of India in 1947 the Punjab province of British India was divided between India and Pakistan. Punjab is the only state in India with a majority Sikh population.


Agriculture was at one time its largest industry and the state is the largest producer of wheat in India. It has a population of 27 million and tourism is fairly high and sees around 1.6 million tourists per year.


Two years ago plans began circulating about a casino opening in Punjab but were dropped following protests from the opposition party and religious groups.


However last year the idea resurfaced and Punjab’s flamboyant Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal started talks again and it is understood a feasibility report is now being undertaken with the aim of building a Las Vegas style casino in Mattewara, a village near Ludhiana.


It is anticipated there will be fierce opposition once again however reports of fiscal problems in the Punjab government is a good reason to go ahead with plans.


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On a national level, many state governments would like to see this sort of effect in their own state, but lack the political courage to push legislation through. The prime and perhaps only consideration an Indian politician has is to ensure that he gets elected at the next election - and, as everywhere in the world – there are very few votes in advocating the legalising of casinos. However, if it happens it is likely to be in one of the smaller states where the jobs and economic stimulation provided by casinos would be more pronounced.


Currently only Sikkim has casinos which is hampered by the difficulties in getting there (no civil airport as yet). Daman (a Union Territory about 150 km north of Mumbai) is awaiting the issue of a licence. The casino and hotel are built but they have been waiting for the issue of the licence for several years now. Daman oper- ates under the same basic primary legislation as does Goa - The Goa, Daman, and Diu Public Gambling Act 1976.”


John Snowball, Vice President of Crown Casino in Goa. www.crowncasino.in


Punjab has one of the highest per capita incomes in India but government coffers are low. A disastrous ‘Free Power to


Farmers policy’ has resulted in low state finances coupled with


faltering revenue collections and stagnating agricultural incomes.


The state has one of the highest per capita incomes in India but ironically government coffers are low. A dis- astrous ‘Free Power to Farmers policy’ has resulted in low state finances coupled with faltering revenue col- lections and stagnating agricultural incomes.


If the casino plans go through it will be part of the state’s Rs300 crore proposed amusement park project which is a park in Mattewara to include entertainment, race course, forest safari, lakes, five star hotel, villas and of course a casino.


“The Indian economy is expected to jump back into growth mode after a rather unremarkable year that was marked by so called policy paralysis, higher costs of borrowing and depressed global demand. The India story continues to be alive and well. The weakening of the Rupee has positives for exporters as well as for long term investors. The so called hot money has already left the country and it is a good time for foreign investors to pick up assets. “Gaming and casino business remains an area of large demand. However this is limited to Goa, Sikkim and Daman. A growing middle class will mean that domestic tourists in search of global gaming experiences at home will head to Goa or Daman which are more easily accessible than Sikkim.” Jaydev Mody, Chairman of Delta Corp.


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